10.19.2013

Micaela Orsi Jorcin, Miss Universe Uruguay 2013, has withdrawn from competing in Miss Universe 2013 pageant to be held on November 9 in Moscow. Her photo has been taken down from the official Miss Universe website - which brings down the total number of contestants to 86. In a letter than Jorcin posted on the Miss Uruguay Facebook page on October 19, she states (my translation; the original Spanish follows): In today's date and through this medium, I want to make public my non-participation in the Miss Universe beauty pageant to be held on 9 November in Moscow, Russia. In February of this year, I was elected Miss Universe Uruguay in order to represent my country in the most important pageant and to fulfill a personal dream. I was coerced to sign a contract of employment in which Mr. Antonio Vergara yields the Miss Universe franchise to Mr. Alejandro Gamella after my coronation. Not being too familiar with the legalities, I signed the contract just like the other contestants did. But when I consulted with lawyers and with experts on the matter, as well as with the Miss Universe Organization, I learned that the contract does not have any validity, since there is a history that franchises are not transferred to third parties. I started my preparation during the month of April in Corozal, Sucre, Colombia staying at the home of the director of Miss Universo Uruguay, Antonio Vergara. The type of accommodation that was provided to me was not consistent with the level of the event that I was expecting. In the month of June I returned to Uruguay to see my family. On my return to Colombia on September 19 in the company of my mom, I was presented with certain proposals that bothered me and that went against the values that my family instilled in me. As days went by, there was no sign of wardrobe, national costume, evening gown, or airline tickets for my trip to Russia. On October 8, we had a conversation to discuss the situation at hand, since time was running out fast. There were only 10 days to travel. After this talk my mother and I decided to return to Uruguay, and consequently to withdraw my participation from the contest. I want to make clear that the reasons mentioned above were the reasons for a deep disappointment that ruined my dreams about this experience. My commitment with Uruguay was to represent my country in a dignified manner at the Miss Universe contest. Given that the conditions were not appropriate to do so, I gave up this opportunity that had been presented to me. I regret very much to have disappointed a lot of people who have supported me during this time, but I could not fail myself going to a contest in unfavorable conditions. Not having obtained the financial support that I needed from the beginning, I thus made this decision that I am communicating now.Thanks again for all your supportMicaela Orsi.

Orsi is the second Uruguayan candidate to withdraw from a major pageant this year. Mercedes Bissio del Puerto had to withdraw from Miss World 2013 (which took place last month in Indonesia) citing personal reasons, though sources say that Bissio had a falling out with the organizers. By Rafa Delfin